METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE SUNDAY, October 16, 2016 22 nd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST PREPARATION The Pastor s entrance and the beginning of the musical prelude are the calls to silent, personal preparation for the worship of God. THE GATHERING We are standing on Holy ground, And I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now, We are standing in God s presence on Holy ground. LITANY Leader: People: ALL: Leader: People: ALL: Leader: People: ALL: The Lord set me down in the midst of a valley filled with old, dry bones. And as commanded, I prophesied, and declared to the bones a living word. And behold, a mighty rattling was heard as the bones were knitted together; then flesh came upon them, and life breathed in their souls, and they leaped to their feet to dance a great dance. The vision awaits its time of fulfillment; let us be patient, but never be idle! The Lord touched my mouth with a burning coal, and told me to speak to the people. And as commanded, I prophesied, and declared to the nations a living word. You told of the wolf that dwelled with the lamb, of the calf and the lion that walked together with a little child before them; of the child who played over the hole of the serpent, while all earth lived in the knowledge of God. The vision awaits its time of fulfillment; let us be patient, but never be idle! I heard behind me a voice like a trumpet, saying, Write what you see in a book. And as commanded, I prophesied, and declared to the world a living word. You wrote of a heaven and an earth made new, of former things passed away; of a holy city come down from God, who promised to make a home on earth, who wiped the tears from our eyes and caused our mourning to be no more! The vision awaits its time of fulfillment; let us be patient, but never be idle! The Messiah is coming; let faith be found!
OPENING HYMN Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not, As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness, To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS CHORUS: Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me! WELCOME Visitors standing If you are here for the first time, we are delighted that you came. If you are dropping in for a second or third visit, we are glad you found something you were looking for. We hope you will be challenged by our worship and that you will come back again. If you are looking for a faith community, we would welcome you as a part of our church family. When you are officially welcomed as a visitor, you will receive a Visitor s Information Card. Please fill it out, and return it to the Pastor, or place it in the offering plate. WELCOME! CONCERNS OF CHURCH AND CITY D. Billye Sanders OFFERTORY For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. 1 Chronicles 29:14 Your tithes and gifts help us: Pay the mortgage, utilities, maintenance, and security for the Metropolitan Meeting House; Provide free pastoral counseling services to members of our congregation; Fund the First Response Center, serving over 700 people living with HIV/AIDS, and others at-risk; Pay for the personnel and operating costs of our ministries; Provide educational materials and resources to assist in the spiritual growth and development of our community; Maintain meeting space for ministries, Girl Scouts, recovery/support groups, and community events; Fund our annual Anniversary and Homecoming celebrations; Give emergency assistance to members of the congregation and community through our benevolence fund. Every gift of your time, talent and treasure makes a vital difference in the life and ministries of Metropolitan Interdenominational Church. Thank you! SONGS OF PRAISE The Voices of Metropolitan Reginald Green, Minister of Music
DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below Praise God above ye heavenly host: Creator, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. PROCLAMATION THE WORD Luke 18:1-8 CHORAL RESPONSE Harry Emerson Fosdick Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, For the living of these days, For the living of these days. PREPARATORY PERIOD MESSAGE THE SENIOR SERVANT HOPE ABOVE HELLISHNESS 1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, Grant me justice against my opponent. 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming. 6 And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? Luke 18:1-8 SERMON NOTES
RESPONSE Please do not leave the sanctuary or in any other manner create a distraction during the invitational period. This is a moment of unparalleled importance. MOMENTS OF REFLECTION Voices of Metropolitan INVITATION TO LIFE IN CHRIST This church will welcome into its membership any persons who love and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and who promise to live according to His Laws of Love, recognizing all people as brothers and sisters for whom He gave His life. THE LORD S SUPPER Communion Prayer We do not presume to come to this, Thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs from under Thy table. But Thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to partake of this sacrament of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life and grow to reflect Thy Spirit in all things forevermore. Amen. (We will eat and drink together after all have been served.) FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE We ve come too far to turn back now; By the grace of God we re gonna make it somehow. Nobody knows the trouble we ve seen; We ve come too far to turn back now. Prayer is a form of communication between God and man and man and God. It is the essence of communication between persons that they will talk with each other from the same basic agenda. Wherever this is not done, communication tends to break down. If, however, an atmosphere of trust can be maintained, then one learns how to wait and be still. It is instructive to examine the prayer life of the Master from this point of view. I am always impressed by the fact that it is recorded that the only thing that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to do was pray. The references are many to His own constant dependence on prayer. (from Prayer and the Search for Community, For the Inward Journey, pp.272-273) HOWARD THURMAN METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH 2128 11 th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208; Mailing Address: P.O. Box 280779, Nashville, TN 37228 Phone: (615) 72METRO (726-3876) Fax: (615) 259-9210 website: www.micwhosoever.org Rev. Edwin C. Sanders, II, The Senior Servant Rev. John Cross, Senior Pastoral Assistant Pastoral Staff: Rev. Marcella Lockhart, Rev. Clifford Smith, Rev. Christopher Davis, Rev. Terry Terrell, Rev. Regina McCrary, Rev. Neely Williams, Rev. Stephanie Thompson, Rev. Cherie Booker, Rev. Christopher Goodwin
UPCOMING EVENTS MIDWEEK FELLOWSHIP: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Dinner by Circle 3; Bible Study 7:00 8:00, Classes for Adults and Children Financial Freedom/Entrepreneurship Seminar Series resumed October 1 st. Join us Saturday mornings 9:00 a.m. noon at the First Response Center, 1219 9 th Ave N, Nashville 37208. Retention Task Force Meeting Saturday, October 22 nd, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Saturday, October 22, 2016 Sign up to Join and/or Sponsor Team WHOSOEVER Walking by Faith at http://main.acsevents.org/site/tr?fr_id=77439&pg=team&team_id=2073111&s_oo=i1hua6vmvcehcqjawayyuw Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday Sunday, October 23, 2016 Wear pink if you can! Ecclesiastical Council Meeting Sunday, October 30 th after worship. All welcome. Harvest of Blessings! Monday, October 31 th at 5:30 pm. Members: please bring wrapped candy in advance for this event. Howard Thurman Retreat Saturday, November 12 th, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Penuel Ridge Retreat Center. Space is limited; sign up soon. Directions in the vestibule. Friends & Family Day at Metropolitan Sunday, November 20, 2016 Thanksgiving Day Worship Thursday, November 24, 2016, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Annual Church Meeting Sunday, December 4 th after worship. All are asked to attend. World AIDS Sunday Celebration Sunday, December 4 th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us as we decorate the Tree of Life to honor both those persons living with HIV as well as those who have transitioned from this earth. Christmas Family Fellowship Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Saturday, December 24, 2016 6:00 7:00 p.m. Friday evening Dancercise, 7 p.m. Voices of Metropolitan Rehearsal, Saturday, 12 2 p.m. Saturday Worship, 6 7 p.m.; The Voices of Metropolitan sing the 2 nd Saturday each month. United Way Employee Giving Campaign: Please designate #3255 to support the First Response Center. For the Combined Federal Campaign, Write In Metropolitan Interdenominational Church First Response Center. ~ Giving Summary ~ Date Offering - Budgeted Offering - Actual Offering (Un)Realized Summary (Un)Realized January, 2016 $ 28,850.00 $ 21,668.00 ($ 7,182.00) ($ 7,182.00) February, 2016 $ 23,080.00 $ 22,536.10 ($ 543.90) ($ 7,725.90) March, 2016 $ 23,080.00 $ 27,527.23 $ 4,447.23 ($ 3,278.67) April, 2016 $ 28,850.00 $ 29,929.83 $ 1,079.83 ($ 2,198.84) May, 2016 $ 28,850.00 $ 26,483.66 ($ 2,366.34) ($ 4,565.18) June, 2016 $ 23,080.00 $ 20,684.67 ($ 2,395.33) ($ 6,960.51) July, 2016 $ 28,850.00 $ 29,991.85 $ 1,141.85 ($ 5,818.66) August, 2016 $ 23,080.00 $ 18,659.46 ($ 4,420.54) September, 2016 $ 23,080.00 $ 22,620.48 ($ 459.52) ($ 10,698.72) October 2, 2016 $ 5,770.00 $ 8,593.00 $ 2,823.00 October 9, 2016 $ 5,770.00 $ 4,994.90 ($ 775.10) October, 2016 $ 11,540.00 $ 13,587.90 $ 2,047.90 2016 Year to Date $ 242,340.00 $ 233,689.18 ($ 8,650.82) ($ 8,650.82)
METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Sunday, October 16, 2016 22 nd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Metropolitan Interdenominational Church is a community of believers inclusive of all and alienating to none, leading the way to spiritual growth by sharing God s love with the world. ACT UP ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) emerged in the 1980 s as a radical advocacy organization for people living with AIDS. Their demands were persistent and their voices could not be silenced. Although in many instances the political institutions and policy makers they targeted had little or no sympathy for the concerns of this predominantly gay group of activists, they were determined to be heard. Very much like those who protested for civil and human rights in the mid-twentieth century, ACT UP leaders passionately and relentlessly fought for the rights of people living with AIDS. Nothing less than justice, irrespective of sexual orientation, was acceptable. Similarly, the widow s voice Jesus brings to life in the parable found at the beginning of Luke 18 is representative of a person who refuses to go away until the unjust judge grants her appeal for justice. When you believe with all of your heart and soul that you deserve justice in relationship to an issue, and that concern lines up with the spirit of God s will for humankind, you can bring forth the unbridled zeal that will not give in to any injustice, even if it means you have to ACT UP. The problems we face in our communities, such as quality education, economic empowerment and health care, as well as all of the -isms and phobias will not go away until those of us who claim to follow Jesus lift our voices and nonviolently ACT UP. (Reprinted from Sunday, October 20, 2013) Senior Servant SICK, SHUT IN, and RECOVERING MEMBERS Leon McKinley Corder 1902 Elliott Avenue; Nashville, TN 37204-2004 Send prayers, not visitors, please. Evelyn Martin 3253 Spears Road; Nashville, TN 37207 615-227-0095 Suzan Matias-Ballentine 198 Dry Creek Road, Goodlettsville, TN 37072 615-830-3393 Yvonne Smith 3842 DuBois Drive; Nashville, TN 37207 615-876-6445 Mary Grace Williams 293 Becklea Drive; Madison, TN 37115 615-868-6810 Emmilye Wilson-Walton P.O. Box 78795; Nashville, TN 37207 615-262-9375 BIBLE READING Read Pray Sacrifice 23 rd Sunday After Pentecost Oct. 17-23, 2016 Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 MIDWEEK FELLOWSHIP MEAL SCHEDULE October 26 Circle 4 November 16 Circle 7 November 2 Circle 5 November 23 No Midweek Fellowship November 9 Circle 6 November 30 Circle 1 Now Please RENEW your enrollment through Kroger Community Rewards. Online: www.kroger.com/communityrewards. Not online? No problem! Call 1-800-576-4377, option 3, for assistance. Support Metropolitan Interdenominational Church First Response Center whenever you use your Kroger Plus card.
Revisiting: Jesus and the Disinherited Retreat Leader: Rev. Edwin C. Sanders, II Senior Servant Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Nashville, TN Under the guidance of a pastor whose congregation s ministry has been guided by the teachings of Howard Saturday, November 12, 2016 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at Penuel Ridge Retreat Center 1440 Sams Creek Road Ashland City, TN 37015 If a man is convinced that he is safe only as long as he uses his power to give others a sense of insecurity, then the measure of their security is in his hands. If security or insecurity is at the mercy of a single individual or group, then control of behavior becomes routine. All imperialism functions in this way. Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited Thurman for over three decades. Delve into this great minister, mystic, philosopher and educator s best-known work, Jesus and the Disinherited, in the idyllic setting of Penuel Ridge Retreat Center, a space designed to be quietly hospitable to enhance personal reflection and spiritual renewal. Gather at the retreat center in a 120-acre natural setting, to listen to excerpts from Howard Thurman s sermons and teachings delivered in his own voice and participate in a small group interaction with ample time for reflection and rejuvenation. The contradictions of life are never final. Howard Thurman, A Strange Freedom